The New England Patriots signed their first cornerback of the offseason Thursday morning — Kindle Vildor.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Patriots signed Vildor to a 1-year contract.
Vildor played the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He entered the league with the Chicago Bears, where he started 21 games from 2021-22.
During 2023, Vildor spent part of the season with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans.
Last season with the Buccaneers, Vildor posted 16 combined tackles with three pass defenses and an interception. He played 164 defensive snaps and 76 snaps on special teams.
In his career, Vildor has 140 combined tackles, 18 pass defenses and two picks in 80 games. He has started 27 of those contests.
Patriots Sign CB Kindle Vildor: Report
Vildor is the third defensive back from Vrabel’s Tennessee tenure the Patriots have added to their roster this offseason.
During the first week of NFL free agency, the Patriots made a splash at safety, signing first-team All-Pro Kevin Byard. While he played the past two years for the Bears, Byard played for Vrabel from 2018-23.
The Patriots also signed free agent safety Mike Brown, who appeared in nine contests for the Titans in 2023.
Kindle’s stint in Tennessee was even more brief. He spent less than two months with the team from late August to the middle of October in 2023. During that time, he played in two contests.
But Vrabel is clearly targeting defensive backs he’s previously worked with, and however brief, Kindle has a relationship with the Patriots head coach.
The Bears drafted Vildor at No. 163 overall in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. After starting just one game as a rookie, he started 12 contests in 2021. He posted 46 combined tackles with four pass defenses.
Vildor recorded his first interception with a career-best five pass defenses in 11 games with Chicago during 2022. He started nine of those games.
Vildor played the 2023 season with the Titans and Detroit Lions. He started two games for the NFC North champions in 2023 after the Titans waived him.
The defensive back was also briefly on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad that season.
Vildor spent the entire 2025 campaign with the Buccaneers.
An Atlanta native, Vildor will turn 29 years old late in the 2026 season.
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There hasn’t been much activity for the Patriots at cornerback this offseason. While Vildor is the first external addition the team has made at cornerback, the only loss New England has sustained at the position was Alex Austin.
Austin signed a 1-year, $1.22 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.
New England’s top cornerbacks from last season — Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones — are all returning. In fact, all three are under contract for at least the next two seasons.
Vildor will likely compete with New England’s other cornerbacks for a roster spot. The advantage Vildor will have in the competition is his experience and ability to play special teams.
Two years ago with the Lions, he lined up for 221 special teams snaps.
Brandon Crossley and Charles Woods are the other cornerbacks on New England’s official offseason roster. The team also has Marcellas Dial Jr. and Kobee Minor listed as defensive backs.
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